Release means for kite structures



Dec. 5, 1967 E. ROOS RELEASE MEANS FOR KITE STRUCTURES Filed July 5, 1966 INVENTOR Eugene Roos FIG.4;

ATTORNEY Unitcd States Patent 3,356,322 RELEASE MEANS FOR KITE STRUCTURES Eugene Roos, 524 Hampton Ave., Bellport, N.Y. 11713 Filed July 8, 1966, Ser. No. 563,795 Claims. (Cl. 244-155) This invention relates generally to release mechanisms and more particularly to inflatable release means capable of securing articles to a kite structure whereby said articles may be carried aloft with said kite structure and whereby deflation of said means will release said articles whereby the latter will be dropped away from said kite structure to thereafter descend therefrom to earth.

Specifically, the instant invention involves the use of conventional balloons with a slow air-discharging valve incorporated therewith whereby a relatively long time delay is established between the inflation and the deflation of the balloon. In essence, the balloon, when expanded, presses and secures an article such as a model space capsule, a parachutist, a glider or the like, to the kite structure or to a platform associated therewith, and retains said article in position during the period in which the kite is sent aloft and preferably for some time thereafter. Upon substantial discharge of the air from within the balloon, the latter ceases to press against and secure the article as aforedescribed,whereupon said article will be released and thus permitted to descend to the ground.

It is this descent, of preferably graceful character, which provides great amusement and entertainment for children. The utility of the present invention further extends to educational areas where the users imagination is activated and exposed to aeronautical concepts which are of such importance at the present.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the instant invention has for an object the provision of improved release means of the foregoing character which can be utilized with conventional kite structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide release means for a kite structure wherein a conventional balloon is used to temporarily secure an article to the upper concave surface of said kite structure.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of release means for kite structures wherein said release means can be readily applied to and removed from the kite structure.

Another general object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the described character which will not interfere with the air-catching properties of a kite inasmuch as the underside of the kite will preferably be clear of obstructions otherwise provided by the release mechamsm.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of release means which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, and highly eflfective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the release means and kite structure; 7

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of said kite structure and release means illustrating the manner in which a glider may be releasably secured to said kite structure;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational cross-sectional view of the release means;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational crosssectional view of the air-releasing valve means incorporated within the mouthpiece of a balloon;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 collectively illustrates various articles of the type which may be secured to a kite structure by the instant release means.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invent-ion illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURES 1-3 show the release means designated generally by numeral 1 in the various positions as heretoforev described.

More specifically, the release means 1 is applied to a conventional kite structure, the latter being comprised of longitudinal and transverse brace members 2 and 4, respect-ively, said brace members being arranged in cruciform as shown, and covering means 6 overlying said brace members and providing an upper generally concave surface 8 and a lower generally convex surface 10. Inasmuch as the kite structure herein illustrated is of the conventional type, the covering means is preferably of paper material, although it will be appreciated that plastic or other suitable materials can be utilized. It will be further understood that kites other than the cruciform type shown may be used, such as the box, wing, or other suitable shapes.

Platform means 12, as shown, is secured to a brace member by staple 14; other fastening means such as glue, rubber bands, etc., being also usable. Platform means 12 can be cardboard, plastic, wood, metal, etc., and ispreferably rectangular of configuration as shown although other shapes thereof may be employed.

Loop means 16, which is preferably formed of rigid plastic material, provides a structure for supporting balloon means 18 which depends therefrom in the manner to be described hereinbelow. It will be appreciated that the entire periphery of the loop shape is rigid and capable of supporting the balloon as shown, the free ends 20 of the loop means are yieldable in-the sense that when pulled apart as shown in broken line designation in FIGURE 3, they will, upon being released, move inwardly toward one another to resume the normal generally rectangular configuration and thus move into gripping engagement with respect to said platform means 12.

An opening 22 is provided through the top periphery portion of said loop means, the mouthpiece 24 of balloon means 18 being positioned through said opening whereby said balloon means depends from said loop means for disposition between the latter and said platform means.

Said mouthpiece 24 is removably disposed within the air-receiving and discharging opening 26 of the conventional balloon 18. The mouthpiece is provided with an air-releasing valve 28 which is preferably a cardboard flat member which is secured to the mouthpiece at 30 whereby the free end 32 thereof will raise away from flat surface 34 of the mouthpiece when air is blown through orifice 36 inwardly of the balloon and which will press against said surface 34 when air pressure Within the balloon exceeds the air pressure within said orifice 36. A pin hole 38 through said flap member will, however, permit air within said balloon to slowly discharge to thus occasion gradual deflation of the balloon.

In the inflated stage, shown in broken line designation, the balloon means will press and retain an article, such as the glider 39 as illustrated in FIGURE 2, between said balloon and platform means. After the balloon has become deflated by dint of air discharge through said mouthpiece 24 as aforedescribed, the article will be released and dropped away from said kite structure for a graceful descent to earth.

As shown in the drawings, the platform 12 and the loop and balloon means project upwardly of said upper generally concave surface 8. It is important and highly preferable that the foregoing elements of the release means be provided upon said upper rather than upon the lower surface 10. To arrange said elements otherwise would cause interference with the wind-catching ability of the lower convex surface 10, and further interfere with the kitestabilizing cord arrangement 40.

Although the preferred embodiment of the release means for kite structures has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A kite structure capable of dropping articles carried aloft thereby, comprising longitudinal and transverse brace members arranged in cruciform and covering means, the latter means overlying said brace members and providing an upper generally concave suface and a lower generally convex surface, platform means secured to at least one of said brace members, loop means having a rigid periphery and two yieldable and inwardly biased free ends, said loop means being removably secured to said platform means whereby said inwardly biased free ends thereof are in gripping engagement with respect to said platform means, said loop means having an opening through the rigid periphery thereof, balloon means having a mouthpiece within its air-receiving and discharging opening, said mouthpiece having air-releasing valve means incorporated therewith, said mouthpiece being positioned through said opening whereby said balloon means depends from said loop means for disposition between the latter and said platform means, said platform, loop and balloon means projecting upwardly of said upper generally concave surface, at least a portion of the article to be dropped being receivable upon said platform means intermediate of the latter and the periphery of said loop means, whereby inflation of said balloon means will temporarily press and retain said article between said balloon and platform means, and whereby said article will be released and dropped away from said kite structure upon deflation of said balloon means by dint of air discharge through said mouthpiece.

2. A kite structure capable of dropping articles carried aloft thereby, comprising brace members and covering means therefor, the latter means providing an upper surface and a lower surface, a kite cord being secured to said brace members and extending from said lower surface, balloon means having a mouthpiece within its air-receiving and discharging opening, said mouthpiece having airreleasing valve means incorporated therewith, said balloon means being mounted upon said upper surface and when inflated being adapted to temporarily press and retain an article between said balloon means and said upper surface, and whereby said article will be released and dropped away from said kite structure upon deflation of said balloon means by dint of air discharge through said mouthpiece.

3. A kite structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said brace members are arranged in cruciform and wherein said upper and lower surfaces are generally concave and convex respectively.

4. A kite structure as set forth in claim 3 including platform means secured to at least one of said brace members, and loop means secured to said platform means, said balloon means being secured to said loop means and disposed between the latter and said platform means.

5. A kite structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plaftorm, loop and balloon means project upwardly of said upper generally concave surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1951 Berthene 244-155 1/1958 Lee 244--l 

1. A KITE STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF DROPPING ARTICLES CARRIED ALOFT THEREBY, COMPRISING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE BRACE MEMBERS ARRANGED IN CRUCIFORM AND COVERING MEANS, THE LATTER MEANS OVERLYING SAID BRACE MEMBERS AND PROVIDING AN UPPER GENERALLY CONCAVE SURFACE AND A LOWER GENERALLY CONVEX SURFACE, PLATFORM MEANS SECURED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BRACE MEMBERS, LOOP MEANS HAVING A RIGID PERIPHERY AND TWO YIELDABLE AND INWARDLY BIASED FREE ENDS, SAID LOOP MEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID PLATFORM MEANS WHEREBY SAID INWARDLY BIASED FREE ENDS THEREOF ARE IN GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLATFORM MEANS, SAID LOOP MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH THE RIGID PERIPHERY THEREOF, BALLOON MEANS HAVING A MOUTHPIECE WITHIN ITS AIR-RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING OPENING, SAID MOUTHPIECE HAVING AIR-RELEASING VALVE MEANS INCORPORATED THEREWITH, SAID MOUTHPIECE BEING POSITIONED THROUGH SAID OPENING WHEREBY SAID BALLOON MEANS DEPENDS FROM SAID LOOP MEANS FOR DISPOSITION BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SAID PLATFORM MEANS, SAID PLATFORM, LOOP AND BALLOON MEANS PROJECTING UPWARDLY OF SAID UPPER GENERALLY CONCAVE SURFACE, AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE ARTICLE TO BE DROPPED BEING RECEIVABLE UPON SAID PLATFORM MEANS INTERMEDIATE OF THE LATTER AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID LOOP MEANS, WHEREBY INFLATION OF SAID BALLOON MEANS WILL TEMPORARILY PRESS AND RETAIN SAID ARTICLE BETWEEN SAID BALLOON AND PLATFORM MEANS, AND WHEREBY SAID ARTICLE WILL BE RELEASED AND DROPPED AWAY FROM SAID KITE STRUCTURE UPON DEFLATION OF SAID BALLOON MEANS BY DINT OF AIR DISCHARGE THROUGH SAID MOUTHPIECE. 